Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-07-22

'What was the size OF the garrisonT' l asked.
There were less than forty-tve fighting men
in the garrison; some OF these were old men
anu others were mere boys, but all of them
we've good marksmen, and part of them were
expert Indian lighters There was good sup
ply OF firearms at hand, but very little powder
and lead.
At daylight on the 27th the commandant,
wishing to send messages 10 the other settle
mcnts, told a soldier and a negro to bring in
some horses that had been turned out 10 craze
the night before
While these men were passing through a
corn-held south of the fort they met six In
dians, one of whom shot tho white man. The
negro ran 1ck to the fort and gave the alarm.
The commandant at once sent Captain Mason
with fourteen or fifteen men to attack the In
diafls, and when they reached the bank OF the
creek they were suddenly attacked on all sides
by Girty's whole force of Indians. Mason and
his men cut q passage through the columns OF
Indians that surrounded them, and started TO
retreat to the fort. In the first encounter,
while they were clearing the lines of their saw
age foes half OF Masons little band was slain.
AS the survivors fled toward the fort they were
hotly pursued by the Indians. An Indian who
was trying to capture Mason overlook him, and
to make sure of killing him fired at him when
the muzzle OF his gun was within n few feet of
the victims body. The shot hit Mason, but did
not disable him. He turned quickly and dealt
his rifle that feled him. The effect of this act
was TO alarm the Indians near at hand, and Ma
son only failed to reach the fort because he was
too much exhausted TO walk so far He man
aged to hide himself, however, in some brush,
where he remained till the end of the siege.
Only two of his men escaped with their
lives.
When it became known at the fort that Ma
sons party was being attacked by superior
force, Captain Ogle, with dozen volunteers,
was sent TO his assistance, The rcscung party
pressed eagerly forward, fellinto an ambuscadc
and twothirds of them were slain on the spot
The indians then advanced upon the fort in two
long loose ranks, reaching from the base of the
hill TO the river. When they came near the
fort the war-NThoop was given, and the satanic
yell was continued for many minutes by the
enormous attacking party. The garrison re-
sponded TO 10 eth a few welldrected shots that
cut short the whoops of half dozen braves and
retired them permanently TO the happy hunting
grounds.
The garrison, It will be remembered, had been
reduced TO about doz, men, two of the best
officers, and more than two thirds of the origi
nal forco were missing. The odds which this
devoted band had to face were fearful But the
very sense of desperate odds gave them the en-
ergy and courage of despair. Then, too their
families and all the held dear in this world were
there to be saved by them or TO perish with
them.
Early in the day Girty approached the fort
with q flag of truce In his hand and demanded
its surrender in the name of the King of Eng
land. Colonel Shepherd who was in command,
promptly told him that he would never surren-
der to him, and that he could only get posses
sion OF the fort when there no longer remained
an American to defend it. Grty disappeared,
and In ten minutes the Indians opened fire oil
the fort. They kept up rafting fire for six
hours, but did little or no damage while every
shot fired by the garrison had some effect. AT
ter o time some of the Indians became impa-
tient and rushed toward the fort to storm 1t.
They were met with several well directed vol
leys that caused them to retreat, and the whole
amy OF Indians stopped firing for while.
AT this juneture IL was discovered that the
stock OF gunpowder in the fort was nearly ex-
hausted, and II was determined to send for keg
of powder that was concealed in the cabin OF
Ebenezer Zane, about sixty yards from the gate
OF the fort.
To reach the cabin and get the powder II
would be necessary TO face the fire OF the whole
army OF Indians, without any means OF shelter
or defense,
The commandant explained the nature of the
dangerous and difficult undertaking to his men,
-Four OF them offered to take the risk and face
what seemed certain death, but their command
ing officer said that four lives could not be risk
ed and that one person must make the attempt
and the sacrifice. Each one of the men desired
10 go, and while they were disputing the point o
brave young woman, Esther Zane, stepped for
ward and said that her life could be better spar
ed than that OF soldier, and that she could go
forth alone and get the powder, or die in the at-
tempt. At first her proposition was refused,
but she urged II with so much force, and had
80 much reason and sense OH her side OF the ar
gument that her relatives and friends were
forced to yield to her heroic purpose.
When the fate of those she loves hinges upon
her movements woman can rise TO the loftiest
heights OF sacrifice and heroism. What sub
liner moral courage was ever exhibited than
that shown by the sister OF Ebenezer Zane when
she stepped from the projecting gates OF the
fort into full view of the hungry and wicked
eyes of five hundred brutal sayages. She knew
that those whom she loved would have to die II
she failed, SO she trod swiftly and majestlcally
as goddess over the plain, blind TO the death
before her, thinking only OF the lives that were
behind her in the fort. The Indians saw her
and hundred guns were leveled at her and
them the almost superhuman courage OF the
woman caused them TO pause, and as they
halted she sped on, seized the keg OF powder
and returned with IT, while the foe looked on
with large-eyed wonder.
Tho attack was quickly renewed by the 1ndi
ans, and at night party OF them came withir
sixty yards Of the fort, bringing with them
hollow maple log which they had converted
taAa ashAhoa hY eleAing ems 81 itI snas Miih /